(Meeting Updates - Photo Illustration - MetroCreativeConnection)

PARKERSBURG — Members of Parkersburg City Council will consider adding $500,000 to Parkersburg’s paving budget when they meet on Tuesday.

The meeting, whose agenda also includes an ordinance authorizing a portion of the pay increases approved in the fiscal 2025-26 budget, is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. Tuesday in council chambers on the second floor of the Municipal Building.

According to a memo to council members from city Engineer Adam Stout, the upcoming paving project was budgeted at $2,038,000 but bids came in at $2,467,240. Stout attributed this to the first time making estimates for two new pavement preservation techniques as well as an increase in asphalt prices, from $165.22 a ton last year to $175.31 a ton this year.

The 2025 pavement project will focus on four types of pavement preservation: asphalt rejuvenation, crack filling, micro surfacing and traditional paving.

Asphalt rejuvenation has been utilized by the city since 2020 and, according to Stout, has shown significant benefits. Crack filling, which utilizes a combination of asphalt cement and fibers to repair both asphalt and concrete pavement, and micro surfacing, a treatment that can be applied at a lower cost than a traditional hot mix, are the new procedures.

Although the cost will be higher than last year’s $2,044,261, Stout says in the memo that approximately 463,188 square yards of pavement will be addressed, compared to 262,975 in 2024. That represents a savings of $2.44 per square yard, the memo says.

“We are finally making strides toward extending the life of our pavements and breaking free from the shortened pavement cycles that have plagued us for years,” Stout says in the memo. “The true benefits of these projects will be realized over the next decade as we continue to implement these fundamental changes in our pavement preservation strategy.”

If approved by council, the revision will be made in the Street Infrastructure Fund using a portion of the unappropriated balance from when the fund was created using money allocated to the Memorial Bridge before its sale to a private owner, Finance Director Eric Jiles said.

The revision is one of two resolutions on the agenda, which only require passage on one reading. The other would change the residency requirement for Parkersburg firefighters from living within a 28-mile radius of the Municipal Building to within a 90-minute drive. Fire Chief Jason Matthews has said that could increase the pool of potential hires for the department.

On final reading is an ordinance extending the Public Outdoor Designated Area time frame to year-round. Authorized by council last year, the PODA ordinance allows people to purchase alcohol in marked, recyclable cups from participating businesses and carry them between Third and Ninth and One-Half streets.

On first reading is an ordinance enacting the 4.2% pay increase for most city employees for police and firefighters and part-time employees. Other workers’ salaries can be adjusted by the administration within salary ranges approved by council.

Other ordinances on first reading would allow employees to cash in a portion of their unused sick time, establish a salary range of $36,504 to $52,565.76 for a civilian fire inspector and create a position of housing coordinator in the Development Department.

Evan Bevins can be reached at ebevins@newsandsentinel.com